What are the application deadlines?
Applications for the 2012-2013 class of Reynolds Fellows will be available Oct. 1st, 2011. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 31st, 2012. RJI will notify applicants by March 15th, 2012.
Who should apply?
The Reynolds Fellowship is open to anyone who has an idea that can make a direct impact for the practice of journalism. We are looking for professionals who have accomplished major achievements but are also still able to advance democracy once they leave RJI. The applicant should have a wide rage of skills and experience, which may or may not be tied directly to journalism.
What is the goal of the Reynolds Fellowship?
The fellowship program is focused on innovation and problem-solving aimed at improving the practice and understanding of journalism. Each fellow is expected to produce a major project intended to enhance the practice and understanding of journalism or advertising.
What’s the difference between an RJI Fellowship and a Futures Lab Project?
A Fellowship is an eight-month program to develop, experiment and test a promising idea designed to benefit the industry and society. A project is typically an intense shorter-term incubation of an idea, a test or an experiment to determine the viability of an idea, or a research effort to validate or improve an innovation.
What resources are available?
RJI is housed at the Missouri School of Journalism, providing all the resources of a major research university. In addition, Fellows will have access to RJI’s Futures Lab and Technology Testing Center, staffed with professionals in media and emerging technologies, and to rigorous and robust research resources. Each Fellow receives office space and laptop computer, along with staff support including marketing, communications, event planning and video production.
How should I apply?
Candidates for the 2012-2013 Reynolds Fellowship should submit a completed application addressed to RJI’s Executive Director, Roger Gafke, no later than Jan. 31st, 2012. A completed application should includes a cover letter, resume, answers to provided questions and any other material that you feel will enhance your proposal, including videos, photos and research.
What does a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship mean?
Innovation need not require the invention of something totally new. Innovation is often the adaptation or repurposing of existing technologies or practices to address or overcome challenges that were not part of the original design of those technologies or practices. The outcome might be new and exciting, but the nuts and bolts of the solutions might be bringing together existing technologies and ideas in new ways. Entrepreneurship suggests that the ideas and solutions should be scalable and sustainable.
Where do Reynolds Fellows usually live during their year in Columbia?
Most Fellows live in rental apartments or houses within walking distance of campus.
Do I need a car to get around during my Fellowship year?
Not necessarily. Whether or not you want to have a car while in Columbia is up to you. Columbia has a great transportation system that can get you almost anywhere in town and there is a shuttle company running regular trips to both the St. Louis and Kansas City airports.
I have a family – can I still be a Reynolds Fellow?
Absolutely!
What airports serve Mid Missouri?
Columbia is served directly by Delta Airlines with three flights a day between Columbia Regional Airport and Memphis International Airport, a Delta hub. From Memphis you can connect to more than 30 cities nationwide. Most major airlines serve both Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (about 90 minutes east of Columbia) and Kansas City International Airport (about 120 minutes west of Columbia). There is regular shuttle service between Columbia and both St. Louis and Kansas City airports.
